U.S. patent number 5,581,853 [Application Number 08/273,508] was granted by the patent office on 1996-12-10 for device for restraining prisoners in the compartment of an automobile.
Invention is credited to Mitch Y. Choi, J. Daniel Miller.
United States Patent |
5,581,853 |
Miller , et al. |
December 10, 1996 |
Device for restraining prisoners in the compartment of an
automobile
Abstract
A prisoner restraint device that permits a prisoner's lower legs
or wrists to be secured in an adjustable loop at one end of a
restraint strap and restrained close to one of the vehicle's doors
comprises (a) a restraint buckle at one end of the strap so that
the strap can be placed around a prisoner's lower legs or wrists
and fastened into an adjustable loop, and (b) a moveable locking
clip at the other end of the strap so that the strap can be
extended through a closed vehicle door and the moveable locking
clip wedged against the outside of the vehicle to secure the
prisoner's bound limbs when the strap is pulled taut.
Inventors: |
Miller; J. Daniel (Redmond,
WA), Choi; Mitch Y. (Seattle, WA) |
Family
ID: |
23044225 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/273,508 |
Filed: |
July 11, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/302; 297/466;
70/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/3761 (20130101); Y10T 70/404 (20150401); Y10T
24/318 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/37 (20060101); A61F 005/37 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/16,17 ;119/769-771
;297/468,466 ;280/801.1,290 ;128/876,882 ;24/298-302 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Brittain; James R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cross, Jr.; Harry M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A restraint device comprising an elongated restraint strap
having a restraint end and a control end; restraint buckle means
having a first section fastened to the restraint end of said strap
and a second section slidably carried by said strap; control handle
means fastened to the control end of said strap; and releasable
locking clip means slidably carried by said strap between the
second section of said restraint buckle means and said control
handle means; said first and second sections of said restraint
buckle means forming an adjustable restraint loop when the first
and second sections are fastened together; said locking clip means
being manually slidable along said restraint strap in a direction
toward the restraint loop, and only slidable in an opposite
direction when released whereby said strap can be buckled around a
person with the restraint loop encircling a portion of the person's
body and drawn taut therearound, and the person can be positioned
on one side of a closed door and held thereagainst by said strap
being extended through a doorway closed by the closed door with
said locking clip means bearing against the other side of the
closed door to maintain the strap in a taut condition; and said
locking clip means comprising a cam buckle through which said strap
extends, said cam buckle having releasable binding means normally
in binding engagement with said strap and constructed and arranged
whereby said cam buckle can be freely moved toward said restraint
loop but can be moved in an opposite direction only when said
binding means is released from binding engagement with said
strap.
2. The restraint device of claim 1 wherein said restraint strap is
doubled back on itself and fastened to itself so as to form said
control handle means.
3. The restraint device of claim 1 wherein said restraint buckle
means comprises a side release buckle having male and female
portions with said male portion providing one of the first and
second sections of the restraint buckle means, and with said female
portion providing the other of the first and second sections of the
restraint buckle means.
4. A method of restraining a prisoner comprising the steps of
providing a restraint device according to claim 1; encircling the
restraint strap of said restraint device around the limbs of the
prisoner and buckling the restraint buckle means so as to cause the
prisoner's limbs to be encircled by the restraint loop of the
restraint device; placing the prisoner on one side of a doorway
having a swinging door associated therewith; extending the
restraint strap through the doorway so that the locking clip means
is on the opposite side of the doorway from the prisoner and
closing the door on the restraint strap; sliding the locking clip
means against the closed door, thereby drawing the restraint strap
taut with the restraint loop closely encircling the prisoner's
limbs whereby the prisoner is restrained against the closed
door.
5. A restraint device comprising an elongated restraint strap
having a restraint end and a control end; restraint buckle means
having a first section fastened to the restraint end of said strap
and a second section slidably carried by said strap; control handle
means fastened to the control end of said strap; and releasable
locking clip means slidably carried by said strap between the
second section of said restraint buckle means and said control
handle means; said first and second sections of said restraint
buckle means forming an adjustable restraint loop when the first
and second sections are fastened together; said locking clip means
being manually slidable along said restraint strap in a direction
toward the restraint loop, and only slidable in an opposite
direction when released whereby said strap can be buckled around a
person with the restraint loop encircling a portion of the person's
body and drawn taut therearound, and the person can be positioned
on one side of a closed door and held thereagainst by said strap
being extended through a doorway closed by the closed door with
said locking clip means bearing against the other side of the
closed door to maintain the strap in a taut condition; said locking
clip means comprising a cam buckle through which said strap
extends, said cam buckle having releasable binding means normally
in binding engagement with said strap and constructed and arranged
whereby said cam buckle can be freely moved toward said restraint
loop but can be moved in an opposite direction only when said
binding means is released from binding engagement with said strap;
said restraint strap being doubled back on itself and fastened to
itself so as to form said control handle means; and said restraint
buckle means comprising a side release buckle having male and
female portions with said male portion providing one of the first
and second sections of the restraint buckle means, and with said
female portion providing the other of the first and second sections
of the restraint buckle means.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to restraints straps employed by law
enforcement officials to restrain prisoners; and more particularly
to leg restraints used to restrain prisoners in a patrol car.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When prisoners are transported by law enforcement officials, two
primary concerns exist. One is the protection of the law
enforcement officers and equipment, such as automobiles. The other
is the restraint of the prisoner without undue harm to his body.
Unruly prisoners are especially difficult to hands safely.
When prisoners are transported by police car, they are usually
handcuffed and placed in the rear seat compartment. Even though
handcuffed, unruly prisoners have a considerable ability to move
around. They can position themselves so as to slam their feet
against doors and windows, often causing damage to the car's
interior. Particularly physical prisoners have been known to break
out windows, for example. When such prisoners exhibit such extreme
behavior, they also pose a danger to the police officer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an elongated prisoner restraint
device that permits a prisoner's lower legs or wrists to be secured
in an adjustable loop at one end of a restraint strap and
restrained close to a doorway. The restraint strap is extended
through an open doorway, after the prisoner is placed with his
bound limbs adjacent the doorway, and the door is closed on the
strap. The portion of the strap external to the door is then pulled
to force the prisoner's bound limbs into close proximity with the
closed door. The restraint strap is provided (a) with latching
means at one end of the strap so that the strap can be placed
around a prisoners lower legs or wrists and buckled into an
adjustable loop, and (b) with a moveable locking clip at the other
end of the strap so that any slack in the strap can be taken up,
when extended through a closed door, by moving the locking clip
toward the closed door and wedging it against the outside of the
door to secure the prisoner's bound limbs when the strap is pulled
taut. The invention is suited especially for use to restrict a
prisoner placed in the rear sear of a patrol vehicle. The invention
may also be used to restrict a prisoner placed in a holding
cell.
In particular, the present invention comprises an elongated
prisoner restraint device that permits a prisoner's lower legs or
wrists to be secured in an adjustable loop at one end of a
restraint strap and restrained closed to one of the vehicle's
doors. The restraint strap is extended through an open doorway of
the vehicle, after the prisoner is placed in a vehicle with his
bound limbs adjacent the doorway of the vehicle, and the door is
closed on the strap. The portion of the strap external to the
vehicle is then pulled to force the prisoner's bound limbs into
close proximity with the close door. The restraint strap is
provided (a) with latching means at one end of the strap so that
the strap can be placed around a prisoner's lower legs or wrists
and fastened into an adjustable loop, and (b) with a moveable
locking clip at the other end of the strap so that the strap can be
extended through a closed vehicle door and the moveable locking
clip wedged against the outside of the vehicle to secure the
prisoner's bound limbs when the strap is pulled taut.
The restraint device of this invention comprises an elongated
restraint strap having a restraint end and a control end, restraint
buckle means having a first section fastened to the restraint end
of said strap and a second section slidably carried by said strap,
control handle means fastened to the control end of said strap, and
releasable locking clip means slidably carried by said strap
between the second section of said restraint buckle means and said
control handle means. The first and second sections of the
restraint buckle means forms an adjustable restraint loop when the
first and second sections are fastened together. The locking clip
means is slidable along the restraint strap in a direction toward
the restraint loop, and is only slidable in an opposite direction
when released whereby the strap can be buckled around a person with
the restraint loop encircling a portion of the person's body and
drawn taut therearound, The person then can be positioned on one
side of a closed door and held thereagainst by the strap being
extended through a doorway closed by the closed door with the
locking clip means bearing against the other side of the closed
door to maintain the strap in a taut condition.
A method of restraining a prisoner according to this invention
comprises the steps of providing a restraint device according to
preceding paragraph, encircling the restraint strap of the
restraint device around the limbs of the prisoner and buckling the
restraint buckle means so as to cause the prisoner's limbs to be
encircled by the restraint loop of said restraint device, placing
the prisoner on one side of a doorway having a swinging door
associated therewith, extending the restraint strap through the
doorway so that the locking clip means is on the opposite side of
the doorway from the prisoner and closing the door on the restraint
strap, and sliding the locking clip means against the closed door,
thereby drawing the restraint strap taut with the restraint loop
closely encircling the prisoner's limbs whereby the prisoner is
restrained against the closed door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the elongated restraint strap of
this invention folded or wrapped into a compact package for
storage;
FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section of a cam buckle locking clip,
showing the restraint strap extending through the buckle;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the elongated restraint strap of this
invention showing it buckled around a prisoner's legs or wrists at
one end and showing the cam buckle locking clip positioned at the
other end of the strap;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inside of a patrol car, showing a
prisoner with his lower legs restrained by the restraint strap and
showing the restraint strap extending through the closed doorway of
the vehicle that is adjacent the prisoner's bound legs;
FIG. 5 is a partial side view in elevation of a patrol car showing
the restraint strap extending through the closed doorway and
showing the cam buckle positioned against the edge of the closed
door to maintain the prisoner's legs in the position shown in FIG.
4; and
FIG. 6 is a view in cross-section of the restraint strap with one
end attached to one section of a side-release latching buckle and
with the restraint strap slidably extended through the other
section of the latching buckle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The restraint device 10 of this invention comprises a restraint
strap 12, a side-release buckle 14 and a cam buckle locking clip
16. The side-release buckle 14 comprises a male section 14a and a
female section 14b. The buckle female section 14b is secured to one
end of the restraint strap 12; the restraint strap 12 being
extended through the female section 14b, doubled back on itself,
and fastened to itself by stitching. At the other end of the
restraint strap 12, a control handle 18 is provided by doubling the
strap back on itself, and fastening the overlapped end itself by
stitching to provide a hand loop. the male section 14a of buckle 14
slides freely on the strap 12 so that it can be latched to the
female section 14b to provide a restraint loop 20. Because male
section 14 a slides freely on strap 12, the loop 20 is freely
adjustable. Consequently, the restraint end of strap 12 (the end to
which the female section 14b of buckle 14 is secured) can be
wrapped around an object and the two buckle sections, 14a, 14b,
secured together, and then the thus-formed restraint loop 20 can be
drawn taut about the object by pulling on the control handle
18.
Each latching buckle section, 14a, 14b, is comprised of a latching
portion and a strap mounting section. Male section 14a is a one
piece, plastic member having flexible latching prongs 14c and a
cross-channel 14d through which the restraint strap 12 passes.
Female section 14b is a one piece, plastic member having a latching
compartment 14e for receiving the latching prongs 14c and a cross
bar 14f around which the restraint strap 12 passes.
The cam buckle locking clip 16 comprises a metal housing 16a
through which the restraint strap 112 passes, a cross shaft 16b
that has a longitudinally-ribbed surface portion 16c facing inward,
and a spring-loaded release 16d that has a toothed surface 16e
facing the ribbed surface 16c. Release 16d includes a release lever
16f and a coil spring 16g that rotatably biases the toothed surface
16e toward the ribbed surface 16c. The restraint strap 12 passes
through housing 16a between cross shaft 16b and release 16d as
shown in FIG. 2. Cam buckle locking clip 16 is oriented on strap 12
such that it can be pushed along strap 12 toward the restraint end,
and such that it cannot be pushed along the strap 12 toward the
control handle end without pressing on release lever 16f to rotate
release 16d out of binding engagement with strap 12. When strap 12
is attempted to be pulled through the cam buckle locking clip 16
from the restraint end, the strap 12 will be pinched between the
ribber surface 16g and the toothed surface 16e and prevented from
slipping through.
When the restraint device of this invention is used to restrain a
prisoner's legs against kicking in a patrol car, the following
procedure would be followed. First the side release buckle sections
would be separated and the restraint end of the strap 12 would be
encircled around the prisoner's ankles 30. Then the side release
buckle sections would be fastened together and the loop 20 thus
formed would be tightened around the ankles by pulling on the
control handle end of the strap 12. The prisoner P would be placed
on the rear seat of a patrol car 40 with his feet toward the
doorway. The cam buckle locking clip 16 would then be pushed up
against the control handle 18 if it had not already been located
there. The strap 12 would then be extended past the door frame of
the car and the car door 42 would be closed on the strap 12. The
strap 12 would be pulled taut so that the buckled restraint loop 29
would be snug around the prisoner's ankles and then the cam buckle
locking clip 16 would be pushed firmly against the closed car door
42. The control handle would then be released and the portion of
the strap hanging outside of the car would hang freely as shown in
FIG. 5. For use in conjunction with a patrol car, the length of
strap 12 is selected so that the outside end of the strap will not
hang to the ground or become entangled with the car's tire. The
strap length is long enough, however, that an officer will have
control over the prisoner's ankles from a distance.
Since the cam buckle locking clip can only be freely pushed toward
the car door, once it is secured against the car's side, the
prisoner's feet on the other side of the door are secured against
the car door. The locking clip will maintain the strap 12 taut.
This prevents the prisoner from kicking out the car windows and
otherwise limits his mobility. To release the prisoner, the cam
buckle locking clip release lever 16f is pressed to rotated the
toothed surface 16e away from the ribbed surface 16c, thereby
freeing the strap 12. The locking clip 16, when release lever 16f
is pressed, can be easily slid along strap 12 toward the control
handle 18. Then the car door 42 can be opened and the prisoner
taken out.
A substantially similar procedure may be employed to restrain a
prisoner in a holding cell. When the restraint strap is placed
around the prisoner's ankles and the prisoner is placed on the cell
floor with his feet toward the doorway, the cell door can be closed
on the strap, the strap pulled taut, and the locking clip slid up
against the outside of the door.
A prisoner's wrists may be secured in the same manner. For some
particularly unruly prisoners, it may be desirable to secure their
ankles with their feet adjacent one car door and to secure their
wrists with their hands adjacent to opposite car door, using two
restraint devices in the process.
The restraint strap preferably comprises a 52 inch long, 1 inch
wide polypropylene strap stitched to provide the loop handle at one
end. At the other end of the strap, the female half of the side
release buckle is sewn in. The strap is inserted through the male
half of the side release buckle so that the male half may slide up
and down the strap. Between the male half of the buckle and the
loop end of the strap, the strap is inserted through the slidable
cam buckle. The side release buckle and the cam buckle could be an
ANCRA 1 inch cam buckle, part # 41030-10.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described
herein, variations in the design may be made. The scope of the
invention, therefore, is only to be limited by the claims appended
hereto.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property is
claimed are defined as follows:
* * * * *